Make your voice heard

Next Tuesday, November 8, is Election Day in the United States. With as much attention that has been on this year’s election from the news to social media, many Americans are in anticipation for the day to be over. Despite that, it is important to reflect upon the power that Election Day gives to the average American and how the day has come to be a symbol for our country.

The United States is a representative democracy. Our very founding is a direct result of individuals wanting their voices heard in their government. During the beginnings of the American Revolution, the colonies were paying taxes to the British government, but their views were not properly represented back in Britain. Thus, the fight for freedom and democracy ensued, and the United States was founded, upheld by a strong Constitution that defines our government and outlines our rights.

Our founding fathers believed that power should be in the hands of the people, whose wills and desires for their country could be demonstrated through the power to vote. This is still evident today, centuries after the nation’s founding and throughout modern day advancements. As an American, you have the ability to vote for the right person to represent your views, to entrust them to use their experience and judgment to make decisions in our government that align with your beliefs. So many countries around the world still don’t have this freedom, and this is what Election Day symbolizes.

This Tuesday, the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, is your opportunity to impact the decisions made at local, state, and federal levels of government. A day that was officially designated by Congress in 1845 and determined based on the harvest and around church schedules, it remains on this Tuesday each year, although with early voting schedules and mail-in ballots, the process of voting has been made more convenient with modern advancements.

Regardless of your political party affiliation or personal viewpoints, voting is a part of the American identity. If you haven’t already, I strongly encourage you to vote this Election Day. Your vote truly makes a difference, and nothing is more important for the future of our community and country. As American citizens, we each deserve to have our voices and opinions heard, and there is no better way to do that than to vote.